How can you create a video editing style guide for your team?

In my journey, I've learned that defining clear objectives is the cornerstone of any successful video editing project. Whether it's for promotional content, educational material, or entertainment, understanding the purpose and the intended message is critical. I've often worked closely with clients and stakeholders to align their vision with the editing style, ensuring that the content meets their goals.

Planning, digging into goals/objectives, and looking at WHY you are creating the video are arguably the most important parts of video creation. The analogy I like to use is that when you go to the doctor, they don't give you a prescription without DIAGNOSING what problems/symptoms you have. The same thing goes for video – you can't expect video to be a viable asset/tool if you don't understand the purpose behind it.

Like most things in life, having the skill to explain clear and concise editing steps, will go a long way for your team. Depending on whether the content is long or short form, the person reading the editing document should be able to effectively follow the instructions without help. Lastly, I think having an in-house style in any organisation is essential. This will ensure that everyone knows how, what and why this style is being used.

Over the years, I've had the chance to review my previous work and learn from it. Identifying what worked well and what needed improvement was a continuous process. This not only helped me refine my editing style but also allowed me to showcase the strengths of our team's work to clients and collaborators. Consistency across various platforms and channels was something I paid close attention to, ensuring a seamless brand identity.

Processes and systems are KEY in any kind of business. That means write EVERYTHING out so that other team members, contractors, and yourself can reference what you want to repeat. In terms of a video style guide – if you write out, take screenshots, or screen recordings of what you want or don't want, and have it all in one place (stay organized), this will greatly help to edit cohesively.

In practice, creating a video editing style guide involved compiling all the technical and creative specifications that I've used in my projects. This included detailed information about video resolution, aspect ratio, and the use of specific transitions and effects. Using clear and concise language was essential, as it ensured that everyone involved in the project could easily understand and follow the guide.

Think of the video editing process. It doesn't start with color or audio editing. It starts from doing these things a certain way: ? Importing footage ? Creating folders for footage, audio, assets, etc. ? Bringing the files into your editing software ? Creating proxies (if needed) to edit faster ? Project settings (size, fps, audio settings, etc.) And THEN you can go into the style guide of how to sync footage and audio, make cuts, add music, edit audio and color, exporting, etc. Write down/record how YOU edit so that when someone else works on a project for you with your guide, there are no discrepancies or errors.

Sharing the style guide with team members, clients, and stakeholders is a collaborative effort. Their feedback and input are invaluable in refining the guide. Additionally, keeping the guide updated with the latest trends and feedback ensures that the work remains fresh and in line with industry standards.

Definitely update the editing style guide as you improve/see changes in the industry. However, I see the video editing style guide as a more internal, helpful resource for your team rather than anything external. Try keeping all of it within Dropbox or Drive so it's easy to remotely access.

Learn from others. Everyone wants to be different, rightly so, but learn from the best in the market. Combine ideas and rhem come up with your own style. There are standards that must be followed. Adhere to them.

It may seem obvious, but do consult video editors for your video editing style guide. If you don't have an in-house video team, then hire a video agency or freelance videographer/filmmaker to help you develop your editing style guide process. They work with style guidlines regularly, so know what information is essential to include. A good video editing style guide should be informed by experts who understand the craft and know video editing best practices and trends. As a result, your video production process will be more efficient because the number of edits needed for any given video project will be reduced. It's a win-win for you and any video editors you hire because it will save wasted time, energy and money.

Version Control: Keep track of versions of your style guide. As it evolves, having a version history allows you to refer back to earlier iterations and trace changes, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Adaptability: The media landscape is dynamic. Ensure that your style guide is adaptable to new platforms, technologies, and trends. Stay informed about the latest developments in video editing and integrate them into your guide as needed.

STAY ORGANIZED. With how many files you can have from just one final video, it's so key to be extremely organized with your file folder structure and exports. Back things up! If you are just keeping the video editing guide on your computer, get it online so that any remote editors can view it easily. Doing everything correctly on the front head saves so many headaches on the backend. You got it!